Description

Podcasting is like blogging out loud! It gives you a
voice—one that can be heard worldwide on computers, iPods, or
other MP3 players. You can podcast to boost your business, promote
your passion, share your opinions, or just have fun. The point is
to say what you want to say to those who want to hear it. With
step-by-step explanations, screen shots, and tons of examples, this
guide clues you in on recording, producing, and hosting your very
own podcast with info on:

Finding your voice and your niche, whether you want to talk
tech, make your own kinds of music, educate listeners, make people
laugh, do soundseeing tours, serialize your novel, or invent a new
podcasting genre

Getting the bare necessities (if you don’t already have
them), including a microphone, recording software, and an audio
card

Audio editing software such as Audacity, Cakewalk for PCs,
GarageBand for musicality, and Audio HiJack Pro for Macs

Recording, including understanding dB (decibel levels),
capturing or minimizing ambient noise, and more

Editing with GarageBand or Audacity, adding bed music, and
including intros and outros for a signature finishing touch

You want your podcast to be heard. Podcasting For Dummies
helps you launch and promote it with info on how to:

Downsize your audio files with MP3 compression

Change bit rates and sample rates in Audacity and iTunes

Create and edit your ID3 tags in Audacity or iTunes

Post your show notes using Movable Type or Libsyn

Simplify the RSS 2.0 feed by using blogging software or a
podcast-hosting company such as Audioblog.com, Podcastamatic, and
Feeder

Ping for publicity

Communicate with your listeners on your blog, through online
discussion groups such as Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups, or on
online forums

Of course, if you want to be a podcatcher (a listener) and
subscribe to podcasts, this guide shows you how to do that, too!
Complete with a companion podcast—a free weekly audio
commentary that will keep you up to speed on the
podsphere—this guide helps you get your message heard, loud
and clear.